This sprawling farmland has been worked for more than 250 years, since 1732 when Joseph Phillips purchased 125 acres from landholder, William Bryant. The Mercer County Park Commission restored the farm to its 1900-1910 appearance, and since 1984 it has been a wonderful resource for families and groups to experience turn-of-the-century farming.

A Self-Guided Tour takes about an hour and a half, inspecting some thirty unique features. Begin in the Parking/Picnic area, where the day's farming activities are posted. Then venture past the Snake Fence into the 1900 farm. See the Beehives with their mouseguards and pass the Round Pasture to the North Crop Fields. Horses, sheep, groundhogs, geese and ducks will be seen in the pasture, and one-third of the fields are cropped and cultivated in 1900's fashion.

Continue to the Sheep Barn, Chicken House, Main Barn, Hog Pasture, Apple Orchard, Farmhouse, Ice House, and other areas to get all the sights, sounds and smells of farming the old way. It's fun and educational, and perfect for people of all ages.

Howell Farm offers a full calendar of events for families. Just a few of the possible activities include Maple Sugaring, Workhorse Rides, Crafts Workshops, Wagon Tours, Hayrides, Sheep Shearing, Cornhusking, and even Plowing Matches. Much more goes on here, and a calendar is free for the asking. For those who live nearby, The Farmlife Program offers a great opportunity to introduce children to the farming life.

Group Tours are available, and School Groups have a wealth of fun and learning opportunities at their command. The programs are built around the actual seasonal activities of a working farm. All programs are very hands-on. A few examples include Ice Harvest (grades 2 and up): Students cut ice from a frozen pond and store it, make and eat some great ice cream, cut wood and make fenceposts, and learn (and deliver) the special care animals need during the winter. In Maple Sugaring (1 and up) children cut firewood, tap trees and gather sap, boil down the syrup, and make pancakes.

Other programs include Farm Animals (Pre-K and K), Sheep Shearing (1 and up), Corn Planting (1 and up), Summer on the Farm (all grades), Wheat Threshing (1 and up), Corn Harvest (1 and up), and others. All of these programs have children perform tasks exactly as they were done in 1900. Everything is done from scratch. For instance, in Maple Sugaring the pancakes are not made from a mix. They are made from wheat grown on the farm. Students grind and sift flour and churn butter to get these pancakes! This is a rare, wholesome opportunity.

Up to 25 people (including chaperones) can comprise a group.

Hours: Open Saturdays, 10am - 4pm. Open Sundays, April through November, Noon - 4pm (for self-guided tours only). Open Tuesday through Friday, 10am - 4pm, February through November. May close for the months of December and January. Call ahead of visiting. Closed on summer Saturdays when there are evening hayrides. Call ahead before visiting to confirm hours.

Admission: FREE.

Groups: Most school programs cost $125.00 for an in-county class and $150.00 for an out-of-county class (25 people or less, including chaperones). Some programs cost slightly more.

Group Reservations: 8 - 12 weeks in advance.

Lunch: Picnic areas available.

Handicapped Access: Partial.

Directions: Rt. 1 North to Langhorne to I-95 North toward W. Trenton. Immediately after crossing bridge take Rt. 29 North about 4 miles to Valley Road. Turn right and drive about 2½ miles to park. 30 - 60 minutes from Philadelphia.